FAO resources on soils and fertilizers
Here is a selection of titles proposed by FAO Publications for forum participants who would like to read more on fertilizers and soil management.
Voluntary Guidelines for Sustainable Soil Management
An easy-to-understand and accessible reference on sustainable soil management for a wide range of stakeholders, from government officials to farmers to the private sector.
Status of the world’s soil resources
This 2015 report remains a benchmark for the periodical assessment and reporting of soil functions and overall soil health at global and regional level.
World fertilizer trends and outlook to 2020 ‒ Summary report‒
Estimates and projections of supply of, and demand for, nitrogen, phosphate and potassium fertilizers to 2020, with information on fertilizer use at global, regional and country level and a guide for planning and managing fertilizer resources.
Proceedings of the global symposium on soil organic carbon 2017
A report from the symposium on soil organic carbon (SOC), which focused on three themes: monitoring, mapping, measuring and reporting; maintaining stocks of SOC for climate change mitigation; and managing SOC.
Soil organic carbon: The hidden potential
On overview of soil organic carbon, and how better information and good practices can contribute to ending hunger, adapting to and mitigating climate change, and achieving overall sustainable development.
Soil, land and water
Data and useful information on the linkages between Sustainable Soil Management and climate change adaptation and mitigation, highlighting FAO’s global framework for action.
Proceedings of the FAO International Symposium on the Role of Agricultural Biotechnologies in Sustainable Food Systems and Nutrition
A review of agricultural biotechnologies, taking into account low-tech as well as high-tech approaches, to meet demand for a more sustainable agriculture while preserving and enhancing ecosystem services and biodiversity.
Water pollution from agriculture: a global review – Executive summary
This review points out negative impacts that agriculture can have on water and, in turn, on human health. It details different forms of pollution (including fertilizer use) and proposes responses.
Global assessment of the impact of plant protection products on soil functions and soil ecosystems
According to this Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils assessment, plant protection products remain key to reach global food production targets, provided there is a stringent regulatory framework to mitigate their impact on water quality, erosion and other areas.
Nature & Faune: Sustainable soil management key to food security and nutrition in Africa. Volume 30, Issue 1
About 30 papers from different African countries provide insights into the challenges to sustainable soil management in Africa, covering themes from soil surveys and assessments to soil fertility management.
Boosting Africa’s soils
This brochure reports on Africa’s soil status after the “Abuja Declaration on Fertilizer for the African Green Revolution” in 2006 and calls for an Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) perspective, crucial to food security and agricultural sustainability.
FAO Publications